Neuroscience + Art

As a psychology major, I am fascinated by the study of the human mind. Last spring quarter, I took a social cognitive neuroscience class. This was the first time this class has ever been taught at UCLA, as it is a new and developing field of study. Not only did I learn the "why" of social human interaction, but I got to learn the "how" behind it. What part of the brain is triggered when you are in an embarrassing social situation? Why does one component of your brain fire more neurons when you are doing one thing versus the other? It is amazing how much we have learned about something so intricate and complex such as our minds, and even more amazing of how we are just beginning to understand it. Here, Christopher deCharms discusses how new technology is allowing us a "look inside the brain," allowing for the possibility of somewhat controlling emotions such as pain or anger. 

During the duration of my undergraduate life, I have also taken a couple of upper division psychology classes that revolve around the Mind-Body relationship. Health Psychology is a class devoted to understanding the scientific connections between psychological factors, social factors, and physical health and illness. This model of health is called the Biopsychosocial model. Over the years, artists have had to create new models to ensure that both doctors and psychologists alike are able to work with the most updated information. For instance, my professor discussed how stress (a psychological state) can weaken the immune system (a physical state).

I was so interested in this, that I took the counterpart, called Mind-Body Health psychology. Here, my professor talked about different methods such as yoga, meditation, and positive thinking and how, if conducted properly, can actually work wonders on the body. Time Magazine's "The Science of Meditation," shows how meditation can be used as a relaxation technique to help with stress management. 

There is no doubt that the mind and body are inextricably connected. Together, art and technology is becoming more and more of a crucial player in the medical and health fields. 

SOURCES:

Biopsychosocial Model. N.d. Photograph. Google Images. 17 Nov 2013.

"Biopsychosocial Model" Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Mar. 2013. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

"Christopher deCharms: A look inside the brain in real time." TED Talks. YouTube, Mar 2008. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

The Science of Meditation. N.d. Photograph. Time Magazine. 17 Nov 2013.<http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1005349,00.html>.

Stein, Joel. "Just Say Om." Time Magazine. (2003): n. page. Print.